Nov. 6 to decide who’ll rule

Kansans who are eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 election have until Tuesday to register. Oct. 16 is the registration deadline for the midterm elections. It’s too late for Missourians who haven’t registered. Yesterday was their deadline. Advance voting in Kansas starts Oct. 22 and runs through 12 p.m. Nov. 5. Missouri voters who anticipate being unable to make it to the polls on Election Day can apply for an absentee ballot, under certain circumstances, beginning six weeks before the election. Every vote matters. In the Aug. 7 primary in Kansas, only 355 votes separated the victor, Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Gov. Jeff Collyer in the race to be the Republican gubernatorial candidate. The stakes are high. Here in Kansas, the midterm elections will decide the governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, state representatives in even-numbered districts, various judges and ballot questions. It will determine who represents us in Congress.Missourians will choose a U.S. representative and a U.S. senator, state auditor, state representatives and county legislators. Voters will determine retention of 17 judges and decide constitutional amendments, propositions and ballot measures. This election will decide which political party controls the U.S. House and Senate. Americans will elect 435 U.S. representatives and 35 U.S. senators. According to the New York Times, “Democrats need to flip 23 seats to capture the 218 seats necessary for control of the House and win at least two new seats to regain control of the Senate.” Voter enthusiasm is at the highest level for a midterm election in more than 20 years, the Pew Research Institute reported on Sep. 26 (http://www.people-press.org/2018/09/26/voter-enthusiasm-at-record-high-in-nationalized-midterm-environment/). The top issues for voters are health care, the economy, immigration, women’s rights and – not surprisingly – Supreme Court appointments. A record share of voters – 72 percent – say the issue of which party controls Congress will be a factor in their vote, Pew found. Indeed, the trajectory of the country for at least the next two years hinges on the Nov. 6 elections. If you’re eligible to vote, be sure you’re registered. You can check your registration online at www.vote.org or by calling your local election office. And be sure to vote.